HomeMy WebLinkAboutESD-020-02
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REPORT
Meeting:
EMERGENCY AND FIRE SERVICES
GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
Report #:
OCTOBER 21, 2002
ESD-020-02
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File # 10.12.6
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Date:
By-law #
Subject:
COMMUNITY EMERGENCY VOLUNTEER RESPONSE PROGRAM
(CERV)
Recommendations:
It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee
recommend to Council the following:
1.) THAT Report ESD-020-02 be received;
2.) THAT the Municipality of Clarington utilize O.V.E.R.T and the Canadian Red
Cross to provide the Recommended services;
3.) THAT Council recommend to the Region of Durham and its local
Municipalities that a joint venture be entered into to have the Ontario
Volunteer Emergency Response Team (O.VER.T) and the Canadian Red
Cross provide (CERV) Program services region wide; and
4.) THAT the Region, in co-operation with the local Municipalities, apply for
funding to support O.V.E.R.T. and the Canadian Red Cross in providing the
CERV Program.
Submitted by:
Reviewed by: U ~-~
Michael G. Creig n, ACT, CMM11 Franklin Wu, M.C.I.P.
Director Emergency & Fire Services Chief Administrative Officer
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904
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REPORT NO.: ESD-01-02
PAGE 2
BACKGROUND AND COMMENT
At the Council meeting of September 30, 2002 a correspondence for direction from the Canadian
Red Cross, D-4 was referred to the Director of Emergency Services for investigation and report.
Staffhas met with Mr. Steve Elliott, Emergency Management Ontario, and Community Officer
for Central Ontario and discussed this program, among other issues related to emergency
planning. Funding for this program was discussed as well as the question raised by Councillor
Rowe regarding the use ofO.V.E.R.T.
Staff also spoke to Ivan Ciucuira of the Durham Emergency Measures Office who agreed, in
theory, that the use ofO.V.E.R.T was the logical route to take. However, he also needed
clarification from Mr. Steve Elliott, if this plan was feasible.
Staff feels that the creation of eight Municipal CERV groups, in light of O. V.E.R. T.' s existence,
would be a duplication of efforts not to mention a waste of resources and finances.
The program required, if it is initiated in each Municipality, 20 volunteers to be outfitted and
trained. Emergency management would train the local Emergency Co-ordinator who in turn
would provide eight 2 Y:. hour training sessions to the volunteers, plus equip them with vests and
hard hats.
The funding mentioned in the program, one million dollars, would be shared province wide and
the program may offset the costs "up to" 100 percent for the first year and ''up to" 50 percent
thereafter. The Municipalities would be required to apply for the funding each year as well as
absorb all un-funded costs. It should be noted that there is no guarantee as to what portion, if
any, the Municipalities would receive.
In my discussions with Mr. Elliott he stated that CERV is not a mandatory program and
Emergency Management Ontario would not dictate how or even if a Municipality were to
participate. However, should a Municipality decide to participate in the CERV program the use
of an organization like O.V.E.R.T would be a satisfactory solution.
Mr. Elliott also advised that there are approximately ten communities participating in a pilot
project including one regional municipality, thought to be HamiltonlWentworth. These
Municipalities will be observed over the winter and in the spring the program will be revisited
and modified, if required, based on the results.
Staff feels that the use ofO.V.E.R.T. by the Municipalities in the Region would be a timely
solution to the various needs identified in the program with the assistance of the local Canadian
Red Cross volunteers.
905
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REPORT NO.: ESD-020-02
PAGE 3
Staff also feels that the time has come for a joint emergency response committee made up of
DEMO staff and the Community Emergency Management Co-ordinators. This group should
meet on a regular basis and help look at the co-ordination of emergency response and resources
in the Region.
Each local Municipality will, under Bill 148, be required to have their own plan, co-ordinator
and training progranIS. However, it is likely any major emergency will involve more than one
local municipality and having such a committee would be invaluable. It would also enable the
co-ordination of the CERV program region wide using the resources of O. V .E.R. T. and the
Canadian Red Cross.
Ivan Ciuciura of DEMO agrees that a meeting should be called of the local Emergency Co-
ordinators and he will endeavour to arrange this meeting within the next month. Staff believes
this is a good first step, but direction from the various Councils may be necessary to ensure
this initiative is followed up on.
CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON
40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L1C 3A6 T(905)623-3379 F (905)623-6506
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